In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Tochimilco
Stay 1 night to see the UNESCO monastery and town square; reach from Puebla in ~2 h by bus‑taxi, or 3 h from Mexico City.
Tochimilco is a small mountain town in Puebla state, famous for its 16th‑century Ex‑Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (UNESCO). The sights cluster around the central plaza, and the surrounding forest offers short hikes. One night is enough for the main attractions; a second night allows a longer hike on Popocatépetl foothills.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (dry, mild temps)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (rainy, volcanic ash more frequent)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$300–500 excl. bed · Mid M$500–800 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- Police / General emergencies 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | M$30–50 |
| Taco or antojito | M$20–40 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | M$15–25 |
| Taxi Popopark → town (30 km (19 mi))Taxi Popopark → town (19 mi (30 km)) | M$250–300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MEX · Benito Juárez International Airport (Mexico City)
- Volcanes bus to Popopark (≈90 min, M$100) then taxi 30 km (19 mi)Volcanes bus to Popopark (≈90 min, M$100) then taxi 19 mi (30 km)
Typical fares
- MEX → Popopark (Volcanes bus)
- ≈ M$100, 90 min (check)
- Popopark → Tochimilco (taxi)
- ≈ M$250, 30 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; taxis for the last 30 km (19 mi) from Popopark. Local buses connect nearby villages; hiking trails start from the edge of town.Town is walkable; taxis for the last 19 mi (30 km) from Popopark. Local buses connect nearby villages; hiking trails start from the edge of town.
See and do
Known for
- Ex‑Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (UNESCO)
- Colonial aqueduct and octagonal fountain
- Santuario del Señor del Calvario
- Town square (Parque Central)
- Hiking trails on Popocatépetl slopes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Popocatépetl Foothills hike | Start from town trailhead, 30 min walk | ≈2 h round trip |
| Cerro Las Mesas | Local trailhead, 10 min walk | ≈1 h round trip |
Sleep
- Hotel d'Silva
- Budget hotel on the main plaza, rooms ~M$700/night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgraˈθjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?ˈkwanto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈbaɲo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Active Popocatépetl volcano emits ash; windshield cleaning may be needed each morning.
- Some parts of the sanctuary may be closed after the 2017 earthquake – check before visiting.
Generally safe; watch for volcanic ash and occasional after‑shocks from Popocatépetl; keep valuables secure in crowded plazas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tochimilco yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ex‑Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (UNESCO)
- Colonial aqueduct and octagonal fountain
- Santuario del Señor del Calvario
- Town square (Parque Central)
- Hiking trails on Popocatépetl slopes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Tochimilco, revision 5228035 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5228035
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tochimilco). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.